Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for community safety, Mark Ward, has called for action from the government on nitrous oxide misuse.
The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking after figures from the HSE showed a 130% increase in people presenting for treatment for Nitrous Oxide since 2022, with 50% of those being children.
The HSE figures, released to Ward, relate to the National Drugs Treatment Reporting System.
Ward said, “I have been raising nitrous oxide misuse since 2020. We have seen the evidence for ourselves, with the number of discarded canisters, first the small silver bullets, and then the large industrial-sized canisters, increase in our parks and on our streets.”
30 people were treated for nitrous oxide misuse as the main problem drug or an additional problem drug in 2022.
“This number has increased every year, with last year’s figure being 69, more than double the first recording,” Ward explained.
“50% of all those who presented seeking help were under the age of 18. This gas can have long-term impacts on children who misuse it,” he said.
“We have seen reports and studies showing an increase in the number pf people with permanent damage from nitrous oxide misuse, including spinal cord and nerve damage, particularly young people.”
Ward said he was questioning the Minister for Health on the number of presentations to emergency departments with nitrous oxide related injuries but this figure is not recorded.
“I expect this figure to be much higher than the data that is collected,” Ward noted.
The Sinn Féin TD said “the government have not acted on this and it does not look like they will be any time soon. They clearly do not realise the issues that people are facing, but enough evidence is there”
“My legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide, which the government voted to delay, will be coming before the Justice Committee soon. Sinn Féin will continue to give this problem the attention that it deserves,” he said.